58—“Lazaro, Phuma!”

[Esi sahluko sisekwe kuLuka 10:38-42; Yohane 11:1-44.]

Phakathi kwabona bafundi bakaKristu ababezinzile, kwakukho uLazaro waseBhetani. Ukususela ekuhlanganeni kwabo okokuqala, ukholo lwakhe kuKristu lwalomelele; uthando lwakhe ngakuYe lwalunzulu, waza wathandwa kakhulu nguMsindisi. Owona mmangaliso mkhulu awawenzayo uKristu wawenzela uLazaro. UMsindisi wayebasikelela bonke ababelufuna uncedo lwaKhe; uluthanda lonke usapho loluntu, kodwa kwabanye, uqanyangelwa lulwalamano lothando oluhamba lodwa. Intliziyo yaKhe yayiphothene ngeqhina eliqinileyo lothando nosapho lwaseBhetani, waza wenzela omnye walo umsebenzi ongowona umangalisa kakhulu. ULw 524.1

Ekhayeni likaLazaro, kulapho uYesu wayekholisa ukufumana khona ukuphumla. UMsindisi wayengenalo ikhaya elilelaKhe; wayexhomekeke kububele babahlobo baKhe nabafundi, aze athi rhoqo xa ediniwe, enxanelwe ubudlelwane nabantu, akonwabele ukuya kusithela kolu sapho lunoxolo, kude ekukrokrelweni nasemoneni wabaFarisi abanengqumbo. Apha wayefumana ukwamkeleka okungenayo inkwalambisa, nobuhlobo obunyulu, nobungcwele. Apha wayekwazi ukuthetha ngokukhululeka okulula nangokugqibeleleyo, esazi ukuba amazwi aKhe aya kuqondwa, agcinwe. ULw 524.2

UMsindisi wethu wayelithanda ikhaya elizolileyo nelinabaphulaphuli abanomdla. Wayebunqwenela ububele bobuntu, imbeko, nothando. Abo babeyamkela imfundiso yasezulwini,awayehleliekulungeleukupha ngayo, babesikeleleka kakhulu.Njengokuba izihlwele zazimlandela uKristu kwiindawo ezivulekileyo emathafeni, wayetyhila kubo ubuhle bendalo. Wayezama ukuwavula amehlo engqiqo yabo, ukuba babone indlela isandla sikaThixo esiliphakamise ngayo ilizwe. Ukuze akwazi ukwenza ukuba kubekho ukuxatyiswa kokulunga nobubele bukaThixo, wayetsalela ingqondo yabaphulaphuli baKhe kumbethe owa ngokuzola, kwimvula ehla kamnandi kunye nokukhanya okuqaqambileyo kwelanga, zonke ezo zinto zinikwa ngokufanayo kwabalungileyo nabakhohlakeleyo. Wayelangazelela ukuba abantu bakuqonde ngokupheleleyo ukuxabisa uThixo akunika izixhobo ezingabantu awazidalayo. Njengokuba izihlwele zazibamba kade ukuva, uKristu wayefumana kwikhaya eliseBhetani ukuphumla kungquzulwano lobomi basesidlangalaleni. Apha, wayesandlala umqulu wokubonelela kukaThixo phambi kwabaphulaphuli abanomdla. Kwezi ntetho zisecaleni, wayebatyhilela abaphulaphuli baKhe oko wayengakhe azame ukukuxelela indibandiba emxube. Wayengadingi kuthetha ngemizekeliso kubahlobo baKhe.ULw 524.3

Wayesithi xa uKristu enika izifundo zaKhe ezimangalisayo, uMariya ahlale ezinyaweni zaKhe, njengomphulaphuli othobekileyo nozimiseleyo. Kwelinye ixesha, uMarta wada wathi, exakene nokulungisa ukutya, waya kuKristu, esithi, “Nkosi, akukhathali na, kukuba umsakwethu andiyekele ndilungiselele ndedwa? Yitsho ke kuye, andincede.” Eli yayilixesha lokuqala lokuhambela kukaKristu eBhetani. UMsindisi nabafundi baKhe babesanda kugqiba uhambo olude ngenyawo besuka eYeriko. UMarta wayexhunele ukulungiselela ukonwaba kwabo, waza wathi, exhaleni lakhe, wayilibala imbeko efanele uMmenywa wakhe. UYesu wamphendula ngamazwi athobileyo nanomonde, “Marta, Marta, uxhaliswa uphithizeliswa zizinto ezininzi. Inye yona into efunekayo; uMariya ke unyule eso sabelo silungileyo, singayi kususwa kuye.” UMariya wayezalisa ingqondo yakhe ngamazwi axabisekileyo aphuma emilebeni yoMsindisi, amazwi awayexabiseke kuye ngaphezu kwawona magugu anexabiso emhlabeni.ULw 525.1

“Into enye” awayeyidinga uMarta yayingumoya ozolileyo, wokuzinikela, ulangazelelo olunzulu lolwazi ngekamva, ubomi obungenakufa, nobabalo olwaneleyo lokukhula emoyeni. Wayedinga ukuba angaxhaleli kakhulu izinto ezidlulayo, kodwa kakhulu izinto ezimi ngonaphakade. UYesu wayeza kubafundisa abantwana baKhe ukuba balisebenzise lonke ithuba lokuzuza olo lwazi lwaluya kubenza ukuba babe nobulumko obusa elusindisweni. Umsebenzi kaKristu udinga abasebenzi abanononophelo nabanamandla. Ibanzi indawo yokusebenza ooMarta, ngenzondelelo yabo ekwenzeni umsebenzi wenkolo. Sekunjalo, mabahlale kuqala kunye noMariya ezinyaweni zikaYesu. Ukukhuthala, ukukhawuleza, namandla zizinto emazingcwaliswe lubabalo lukaKristu; ubomi buya kuthi ngoko bube ngamandla okwenza okulungileyo angasokuze oyiswe. ULw 525.2

Intlungu yalifikela ikhaya elinoxolo apho uYesu wayephumla khona. ULazaro wahlaselwa sisifo esikhawulezileyo, bazaoodadewabo bathumela ukuba kubizwe uMsindisi, besithi, “Nkosi, uyabona, lowo umthandayo uyafa.” Babona amandla esifo esasibambe umnakwabo, kodwa bazi ukuba uKristu wayezibonakalalisile ukuba unako ukuziphilisa zonke iintlobo zezifo. Bakholwa ukuba uya kuba novelwano ngabo kwimbandezelo abakuyo; ngenxa yoko, abakukhawulezisa ukumbiza ukuba abekho, kodwa bathumela isigidimi nje sabucala, esithi, “Lowo umthandayo uyafa.” Babecinga ukuba uya kukhawuleza asabele kwisigidimi sabo, aze abe kunye nabo, ngako nje ukuba afike eBhetani. ULw 526.1

Balindela ilizwi elivela kuYesu besexhaleni. Ngalo lonke ixesha yayisekho intlantsi yobomi kumnakwabo, babethandaza belindele ukufika kukaYesu. Umthunywa wabuya engahambi naYe. Phofu wayephethe isigidimi esithi, “Esi sifo asiyelele kufeni,” baza babambelela kwithemba lokuba uLazaro uya kuphila. Ngothando bazama ukuthetha amazwi ethemba nenkuthazo kulo ugulayo owayesele engathi ulahlekelwa kukuqonda. Wathi akufa uLazaro, baba nokudana okukhulu; kodwa baluva ubabalo lukaKristu olubaxhasayo, kwaza oku kwabathintela ekucingeni ngokumsola uMsindisi. ULw 526.2

Wathi uKristu akusiva isigidimi [sokugula], abafundi bacinga ukuba noko usamkele ngendlela ebandayo. Akazange abonakalalise intlungu ababeyilindele kuYe. Ekhangele kubo wathi, “Esi sifo asiyelele kufeni; singenxa yozuko lukaThixo, ukuze uNyana kaThixo azukiswe ngaso.” Kwaphela iintsuku ezimbini ekuloo ndawo wayekuyo. Oku kulibazisa kwaba yimfihlelo kubafundi. Indlela okwakuya kuba yintuthuzelo ngayo ubukho baKhe kwikhaya elinembandezelo! Bacinga njalo abafundi. Ukuluthanda kakhulu kwaKhe usapho oluseBhetani kwakusazeka kakhulu kubafundi, baza bakhwankqiswa kuba engasabelanga kwisigidimi sosizi, esasisithi, “Lowo umthandayo uyafa.”ULw 526.3

Ngezi ntsuku zimbini, uKristu wayebonakala ngokungathi usikhuphile esi sigidimi engqondweni yaKhe; kuba akazange athethe ngoLazaro. Abafundi bacinga ngoYohane umBhaptizi, owayesandulela uYesu. Bamangala ukuba kutheni uYesu, enawo onke amandla okwenza imimangaliso, aze amvumele uYohane ukuba abhadle entolongweni, aze afe ukufa okubi. Xa enawo amandla angako, kwakutheni aze uKristu angabusindisi ubomi bukaYohane? Lo mbuzo owawubuzwa rhoqo ngabaFarisi, ababesebenzisa wona njengengxoxo engenakuphikiswa ekuchaseni ibango likaKristu lokuba unguNyana kaThixo. Umsindisi wayebalumkisile abafundi baKhe ngezilingo, iilahleko, nentshutshiso. Ingaba wayeza kubashiya ekulingweni? Abanye baba nengxaki ngelithi mhlawumbi baphazama ngomsebenzi [uKristu] awayezele wona. Bonke bakhathazeka kakhulu.ULw 526.4

Emva kokulinda iintsuku ezimbini, uYesu wathi kubafundi baKhe, “Masibuye siye kwelakwaYuda.” Babanombuzo abafundi wokuba kungaba kutheni le nto uYesu xa eseza kuya kwaYuda, eye walinda iintsuku ezimbini. Ngelixesha, ixhalangenxa kaKristu kunye nabo laba yeyona nto iphambili ezingqondweni zabo. Babengasaboni enye into bona ngaphandle kwengozi kule ndlela wayeza kuyihamba. “Rabhi,” batsho, “amaYuda ebefuna ngoku ukukuxuluba ngamataye nje, ubuya uye khona na? Waphendula uYesu wathi, akalishumi elinamabini na amaxa emini?” Ndiphantsi kwenkokelo kaBawo; lo gama ndisenza intando yaKhe, ubomi bam bukhuselekile. Iiyure zam ezilishumbi elinesibini zemini azikapheli. Ndingene ngoku kwintsalela yokugqibela yemini yaM; kodwa lo gama kusekho intwana yayo esaseleyo, ndikhuselekile. ULw 527.1

“Ukuba umntu uthi ahambe emini,” waqhubeka, “akakhubeki; ngokuba elubona ukhanyiselo lweli hlabathi.” Lowo uyenzayo intando kaThixo, ohamba endleleni ephawulwe nguThixo, akanako ukukhubeka, awe. Ukukhanya koMoya okhokelayo kaThixo kumnika ukuba aluqonde ngokucacileyo uxanduva analo, kuze kumkhokele ngokufanelekileyo ade afikelele ekupheleni komsebenzi wakhe. “Ke ukuba umntu uthi ahambe ebusuku, uyakhubeka; ngokuba ukukhanya kungekho kuye.” Lowo uhamba kwindlela yokwakhe ukuzikhethela, apho uThixo angambizelanga khona, uya kukhubeka. Kuye, imini ijike yaba bubusuku, kwaye, naphi na apho aya khona, akakhuselekanga.ULw 527.2

“Wazithetha ezi zinto; aze emveni koko athi kubo, ULazaro, umhlobo wethu, ulele; ndiyaya ukuba ndimvuse.” “ULazaro, umhlobo wethu, ulele.” Indlela ayechukumisa ngayo la mazwi! Indlela ayezele luvelwano ngayo! Ukucinga ngengozi iNkosi yabo eyayiza kungena kuyo ngokuya eYerusalem, kwenza ukuba abafundi baphantse ukulibala ngosapho olufelweyo lwaseBhetani. Kwakungenjalo kodwa kuKristu. Abafundi baziva bethethisiwe. Babedanisiwe kuba uKristu engazange asabele ngokukhawuleza kwisigidimi [esasizile]. Balingeka ukuba bacinge ukuba wayengenalo uthando olunobubele lukaLazaro kunye noodadewabo ababecinga bona ukuba unalo, kungenjalo kwakufuneka ejike ngokukhawuleza nalowo wayethunyiwe. Sekunjalo, amazwi, athi, “ULazaro, umhlobo wethu, ulele,” avusa imvakalelo elungileyo ezingqondweni zabo. Baya bazi ukuba uKristu wayengalibelanga nabahlobo baKhe abasentlungwini. ULw 527.3

“Bathi ngoko abafundi bakhe, Nkosi, ukuba ulele, wosinda. Ke yena uYesu ubethetha ukufa kwakhe. Bona ke bebeba uthetha ngokulala ubuthongo.” UKristu ukubeka ukufa ngokuthi kukulala, ebantwaneni baKhe abakholwayo. Ubomi babo bufihlwe naYe kuThixo, kwaye kuya kude kukhale ixilongo lokugqibela abo bafayo belala kuYe.ULw 527.4

“Wandula ngoku uYesu wathi kubo ngokungafihlisiyo, uLazaro ufile. Ndiyavuya ke ngenxa yenu, ukuba ndibe ndingekho khona, ukuze nikholwe. Noko ke masiye kuye.” UTomas yena akazange abone nto ngaphandle kokufa okwakulindele iNkosi yakhe xa ithe yaya kwaYuda; kodwa wawubhinqisa umoya wakhe, wathi kwabanye abafundi, “Masiyenathi,ukuzesife naye.” Wayeyazi intiyo yamaYuda ngakuKristu. Yaye iyinjongo yawo ukuzama ukumbulala, kodwa le njongo yayingazange iphumelele, kuba kwakusekho ixesha eliseleyo kwelo wayabelwe lona. Ngeli xesha uYesu wayephantsi kokhuselo lweengelosi zasezulwini; kwathi nakwimimandla yelakwaYuda, apho abafundisi babeceba indlela abangambamba ngayo bambulale, akuzange kuze ngozi kuYe. ULw 527.5

Abafundi bamangala ngamazwi kaKristu xa wayesithi, “ULazaro ufile. Ndiyavuya ke. . . ukuba ndibe ndingekho khona.” Ingaba uMsindisi wazikhethela ngokwaKhe ukuba aliphephe ikhaya labahlobo bakhe abasentlungwini? Kwakubonakala ngokungathi uMariya noMarta kunye noLazaro owayesifa bashiywa bodwa. Bona babengebodwa. UKristu wayewukhangele wonke umboniso, kwathi akuba efile uLazaro, oodadewabo abasentlungwini baphakanyiswa lubabalo lwaKhe. UYesu wayibona intlungu eyayikrazula iintliziyo, ngexesha umnakwabo ebambene notshaba lwakhe olunamandla, ukufa. Wakuva ukuhlatywa yintlungu, ngexesha esithi kubafundi baKhe, “ULazaro ufile.” Noko kunjalo, uKristu kwakungekuphela kwabo abathandayo baseBhetani ekwakufuneka ecinge ngabo; kwakukho ukuqeqesha kwabafundi awayekujongile. Kwakufuneka babe ngabameli baKhe emhlabeni, nokuba intsikelelo kaBawo kufuneka ifikelele kubo bonke abantu. Ngenxa yabo, wakuvumela ukufa kukaLazaro. Ukuba wayemphilisile ekuguleni, amnike impilo, ummangaliso ongowona ububungqina obubonakalayo bobuntu nobuThixo baKhe, ngowungazanga wenziwa. ULw 528.1

Ukuba uKristu wayekho kwigumbi lomguli, uLazaro ngewayengafanga; kuba uSathana ngewayengazange abe nawo amandla phezu kwakhe. Ukufa ngekungazange kukwazi ukutola kuLazaro ekho uMniki-bomi. Ngoko ke, uKristu wabona ukuba makangabikho. Waluyeka utshaba ukuba lusebenzise amandla alo, ukuze alugxothe lumke, lulutshaba oloyisiweyo. Wamvumela uLazaro ukuba adlule phantsi kobukhosi bokufa; baza oodadewabo abasentlungwini bambona umnakwabo elaliswa engcwabeni. UKristu wazi ukuba, xa babekhangele ubuso obufileyo bomnakwabo, ukholo lwabo kuMhlanguli lwaluza kulingeka ngamandla. Wazi kodwa ukuba ngenxa yokulwa ababedlula kuko ngoku, ukholo lwabo lwaluza kubengezela ngamandla amakhulu kakhulu. Wayeyiva yonke intlungu ekwakufuneka beyinyamezele. Kwakungengakuba wayebathanda kancinane ngokulibala kwaKhe; kodwa wayesazi ukuba, ngenxa yabo, ngenxa kaLazaro, nangenxa yabafundi baKhe, uloyiso lwaluza kuzuzwa. ULw 528.2

“Ngenxa yenu,” “ukuze nikholwe.” Kubo bonke abolulela izandla zabo ukuba bave isandla esikhokelayo sikaThixo, umzuzwana ongowona wodaniso olukhulu, lixesha xa kanye uncedo lwezulu lukufuphi kakhulu. Baya kukhangela ngasemva, bezaliswe ngumbulelo, kweyona ndawo imnyama endleleni yabo. “Iyakwazi iNkosi ukubahlangula ekuhendweni abahlonela uThixo,” 2 Petros 2:9. Kuso sonke isihendo naso sonke isilingo, uThixo uya kubakhupha benokholo oluqine kakhulu namava atyebe kakhulu.ULw 528.3

Ekulibaziseni ukuza kuLazaro, uKristu wayenenjongo yokwenzela inceba ngakwabo abo babengazange bamamkele. Walibazisa, ukuze, ngokumvusa uLazaro kwabafileyo, anike abantu abaneenkani, nabangakholwayo obunye ubungqina bokuba, ngokwenene, “ululo uvuko, ebubo nobomi.” Wayengakuthandi ukubancama abantu, izimvu ezilusizi ezibhadulayo zendlu kaIsrayeli. Intliziyo yakhe yayisaphuka ngenxa yokungabi nokuzohlwaya kwabo. Kwinceba yaKhe, wayenenjongo yokubanika obunye ubungqina bokuba wayenguye uMbuyiseli, Lowo ikuphela kwaKhe onokuveza ubomi nokungafi ekukhanyeni. Obu yayiza kuba bubungqina ababengenako ukububeka ngendlela engeyiyo ababingeleli. Esi yayisisizathu sokuba aye kade eBhetani. Lo mmangaliso ophezulu, okwiqoqo lokugqibela, ukuvuswa kukaLazaro, wawuza kubeka itywina emsebenzini waKhe nakwibango laKhe lobuThixo. ULw 529.1

Kuhambo lwaKhe oluya eBhetani, uYesu, ngokwesiko laKhe, wayenceda abagulayo nabasweleyo. Akufika edolophini, wathumela umthunywa koodadewabo [uLazaro] ukuba axele ngokufika kwaKhe. UKristu akazange angene kwangoko endlwini, kodwa walinda kwindawo ezolileyo ecaleni kwendlela. Isiphithiphithi sengxolo esasisenziwa ngamaYuda emngcwabeni wabahlobo okanye izizalwana sasingahambelani nomoya kaKristu. Weva ingxolo yokukhala kwabazili abaqeshiweyo, waza akathanda ukuhlangana noodade bofileyo phakathi kwesiphithiphithi. Phakathi kwabahlobo abalilayo kwakukho izizalwana zosapho, abanye babo bekwizikhundla eziphezulu eYerusalem. Phakathi kwaba kwakukho nabo babezezona ntshaba zinkulu zikaKristu. UKristu wayezazi iinjongo zabo, kwathi ngenxa yoko akakhawuleza ukuzazisa ukuba ukho. ULw 529.2

Isigidimi safika kuMarta ngokusetyezwa okwenza ukuba abanye abasegumbini bangeva. Esahleli nzulu kwintlungu yakhe, uMariya akazange awave la mazwi. UMarta wathi khwasu kwangoko waphuma waya kuhlangabeza iNkosi yakhe. Wathi, kuba ecinga ukuba uMarta uye apho angcwatywe khona uLazaro, uMariya wazihlalela esentlungwini, akathetha nto.ULw 529.3

UMarta wakhawuleza ukuhlangana noYesu, intliziyo yakhe ichukunyiswe ziimvakalelo ezibethabethanayo. Ebusweni bukaYesu obuthethayo, wabona obo bubele buqhelekileyo, nothando olwaluhlala lukhona apho kubo. Ukumthemba kwakhe kwakungasukanga, kodwa wacinga ngomnakwabo othandekayo, noYesu awayemthanda. Kwathi, nangona yaya inyuka intlungu entliziyweni yakhe, kuba uKristu engafikanga kwangaphambili, phofu enethemba lokuba nangoku usenokuba nento ayenzayo ukubathuthuzela, wathi, “Nkosi, ukuba ubulapha, umnakwethu ange engafanga.” La mazwi ayephindaphindwa njalo ngoodade, phakathi kwayo yonke ingxolo yabazili.ULw 529.4

Ngovelwano lobuntu nobuThixo, uYesu wamkhangelaebusweni obuzaliswe lusizi nakukukhathazeka. UMarta wayengenangcinga yokubalisa okudlulileyo; konke kwavakaliswa ngamazwi adal’ usizi, xa esithi, “Nkosi, ukuba ubulapha, umnakwethu ange engafanga.” Wathi, ekhangele kobo buso bunothando, wongeza wathi, “Ndiyazi ukuba ongathi ukucele kuThixo, oko wokunika uThixo.” ULw 530.1

UYesu walukhuthaza ukholo lwakhe, wathi, “Umnakwenu uya kubuya avuke.” Impendulo yaKhe yayingaqonde ukuvuselela ithemba lenguquko ekhawulezileyo. Wazisusa iingcinga zikaMarta ekubuyiselweni ngeli xesha lomnakwabo, wazimilisela kuvuko lwamalungisa. Wakwenza oku ukuze abone ekuvukeni kukaLazaro isibambathiso sovuko lwabo bonke abangamalungisa abafileyo, njengesiqinisekiso sokuba oko kuya kufezeka ngokwenziwa ngamandla oMsindisi. ULw 531.1

UMarta waphendula, “Ndiyazi ukuba uya kubuya avuke eluvukweni, ngomhla wokugqibela.” ULw 531.2

Esazama ukulubeka endleleni ukholo lwakhe, uYesu wathi, “Ndim uvuko, ndim ubomi.” KuKristu kukho ubomi, obemvelo, obungabolekwanga, obungenziwanga. “Lowo unaye uNyana, unabo ubomi.” 1 Yohane 5:12. UbuThixo bukaKristu kulapho ikholwa linesiqinisekiso sobomi obungunaphakade. “Lowo ukholwayo kum,” watsho uYesu, “nokuba ubethe wafa, wodla ubomi. Bonke abadla ubomi bekholwa kum, abasayi kufa naphakade; uyakholwa na koko?” UKristu apha ukhangele phambili kwixesha lokubuya kwaKhe kwesibini. Ngelo xesha, abangamalungisa baya kuvuswa bengenakonakala, bathi abaphilileyo abangamalungisa benziwe kumila kumbi basiwe ezulwini bengakubonanga ukufa. Ummangaliso awayeza kuwenza uKristu, ekuvuseni uLazaro kwabafileyo, wawuza kumela amalungisa wonke afileyo. Ngelizwi laKhe nemisebenzi yaKhe wazazisa ukuba uyiMbangi yovuko. Lowo yena ngokwaKhe wayeza kufa kungekudala emnqamlezweni, wema ephethe izitshixo zokufa, umoyisi wengcwaba, wasebenzisa igunya namandla aKhe ukunika ubomi obungunaphakade. ULw 531.3

Kumazwi oMsindisi, athi, “Uyakholwa na koko?” uMarta waphendula, “Ewe, Nkosi, mna ndiyakholwa ukuba wena unguye uKristu, uNyana kaThixo, lowo uzayo ehlabathini.” Akakuqondanga konke ukubaluleka okusemazwini awayethethwa nguKristu, kodwa wakuvuma ukukholelwa kwakhe kubuThixo baKhe, nokuthemba kwakhe ukuba unako ukwenza nantoni akholwa yiyo ukuba ayenze. ULw 531.4

“Waza etshilo wemka, waye wabiza uMariya umsakwabo ngasese, wathi, UMfundisi ukho, uyakubiza.” Wasihambisa isigidimi sakhe ngokuzolileyo kangangoko anako; kuba ababingeleli nabaphathi babelungele ukumbamba uYesu xa benokuzuza ithuba. Izikhalo zabazili zakuthintela ukuvakala kwamazwi wakhe.ULw 531.5

Wathi akusiva isigidimi, uMariya wasuka ngokukhawuleza, ekhangeleka esexhaleni, walishiya igumbi. Ngokucinga ukuba uyokulila engcwabeni, abazili bamlandela. Wathi akufika apho wayelinde khona uYesu, waguqa ezinyaweni zaKhe, ngemilebe ebebezelayo, wathi, “Nkosi, ukuba ubulapha, umnakwethu ange engafanga.” Izikhalo zabazili zazimenza buhlungu; kuba wayenga angazuza amazwi apholileyo eyedwa kunye noYesu. Noko kunjalo, wayenolwazi ngomona nekhwele elalikwiintliziyo zabanye ababekho abamchasileyo uKristu, waza wazibamba ukuba angayibonisi ngokupheleleyo intlungu yakhe. ULw 533.1

“Uthe ngoko uYesu, akumbona elila, namaYuda abeze naye elila, wafutheka, wakhathazeka.” Wazifunda iintliziyo zabo bonke ababebuthelene apho. Wabona ukuba, kwabaninzi, le nto yayikhangeleka ikukubonakaliswa kwentlungu, yayikukuzenzisa. Wazi ukuba, abanye apho kwelo qela libonakalalisa intlungu yohanahaniso, babeza kuthi, kungekudala, bacebe ukufa, kungekuphela okomenzi wemimangaliso, kodwa kwalowo uza kuvuswa kwabafileyo. UKristu wayenako ukubahluba ingubo yentlungu yokuzenzisa. Waya wayibamba ingqumbo yaKhe yobulungisa. Amazwi angewathethile ngayo yonke inyaniso, akazange awathethe, ngenxa yalowo uthandwayo wayeguqe ezinyaweni zaKhe elusizi, nowayekholelwa kuYe ngenene. ULw 533.2

“Nimbeke phi na?” wabuza, “Bathi kuye, Nkosi, yiza ubone.” Bahamba kunye baya engcwabeni. Yayingumbono wosizi. ULazaro wayethandwa kakhulu, baza oodadewabo bamlilela ngeentliziyo ezaphukileyo, ngeli xesha abo babengabahlobo bakhe bazixuba nezo zoodadewabo abasentlungwini iinyembezi zabo. Ngenxa yalo mbono woxinzelelo lwabantu, nokuba abahlobo ababandezelekileyo bakwazi ukulila phezu kofileyo uMsindisi wehlabathi emi kufuphi,--“uYesu walila.” Nangona wayenguNyana kaThixo, wayethabathele kuYe indalo yomntu, waza wachukunyiswa yintlungu yomntu. Intliziyo yaKhe enothando novelwano ihlala ikuphaphamele ukuba novelwano kwintlungu. Ulila nabo balilayo, avuye nabo bavuyayo. ULw 533.3

Noko kunjalo, kwakungengakuba wayenovelwano loluntu kuMariya noMarta okwenza ukuba uYesu alile. Kwiinyembezi zaKhe kwakukho intlungu ephakame ngaphaya kwentlungu yoluntu njengoko amazulu ephakeme ngaphaya komhlaba. UKristu akazange alilele uLazaro; kuba wayesele eza kumbiza aphume engcwabeni. Walila kuba abaninzi kwabo babezilele uLazaro, kungekudala, babeza kuceba ukufa kwaLowo uluvukonobomi. Eyonanto, hayi indlelaamaYudaangakholwayo angakwazi ngayo ukuzichaza iinyembezi zaKhe! Amanye ayengaboni nto ngaphandle kweemeko zombono wangaphandle ophambi kwaKhe njengobangela intlungu yaKhe, asebeza athi, “Yabonani ke ukumthanda kwakhe!” Amanye, ngokufuna ukuhlwayela imbewu yokungakholwa ezintliziyweni zabo babekho, bagculela ngelithi, “Ubengenako na lo, wawavulayo amehlo emfama, ukwenza ukuba nalo angafi?” Ukuba uKristu wayenawo amandla okumsindisa uLazaro, kwakutheni ukuze amyeke ukuba afe? ULw 533.4

Ngeliso lobuprofeti, uKristu wabubona ubutshaba babaFarisi nabaSadusi. Wazi ukuba babecamngca kwangaphambili ngokufa kwaKhe. Wazi ukuba abanye babo babebonakala ngokungathi banovelwano ngoku, kungekudala, babeza kuluvala ngakubo ucango lwethemba namasango omzi kaThixo. Umboniso wawusele uza kubakho, ekuthotyelweni phantsi kwaKhe nokubethelelwa emnqamlezweni, okwakuza kuba nesiphumo esikukutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem, kwaye ngelo xesha, akukho noyedwa oya kulilela abafileyo. Imbuyekezo eyayiza kuhlela iYerusalem yayizotywe ngokucacileyo phambi kwaKhe. Wayibona iYerusalem irhangqwe yimikhosi yamaRoma. Wazi ukuba, abaninzi ababelilela uLazaro ngoku, babeza kufa ekungqingweni kwesixeko, kwaye kungasayi kubakho themba ekufeni kwabo. ULw 534.1

Kwakungekuphela ngenxa yomboniso owawuphambi kwaKhe okwenza ukuba uKristu alile. Ubunzima bentlungu yezizukulwana yayiphezu kwaKhe. Wazibona iziphumo ezibi zokugqithwa komthetho kaThixo. Wabona kwimbali yehlabathi, ukuqalela ekufeni kuka-Abheli, imfazwe phakathi kokulungileyo nokubi ayizange iphele. Ekhangele phambili kwiminyaka eyayiza kuza, wabona intlungu nosizi, iinyembezi nokufa, okwakuza kuba sisabelo sabantu. Intliziyo yaKhe yahlatywa yintlungu yosapho loluntu lwazo zonke izizukulwana kuwo onke amazwe. Izikhalo zohlanga lwaboni zazinzima phezu komphefumlo waKhe, waza umthombo weenyembezi wavuleka njengoko wayelangazelela ukubakhulula bonke kuxinzelelo. ULw 534.2

“Abuye ke uYesu afutheke ngaphakathi kwakhe, eze engcwabeni.” ULazaro wayelaliswe emqolombeni welitye, kwaza kwabekwa ilitye elikhulu ekungeneni. “Lisuseni ilitye,” watsho uKristu. Ngenxa yokuba wayecinga ukuba [uYesu] ufuna ukukhangela nje lowo ufileyo, uMarta wala, esithi, umzimba uneentsuku ezine ungcwatyiwe, nokonakala sele kuwuqalile umsebenzi wako. Le ntetho yenziwa phambi kokuba avuswe uLazaro, ayizange izishiyele ndawo yakuthetha iintshaba zikaKristu ukuba zithi kusetyenziswe inkohliso. Kwixesha eladlulayo, abaFarisi basasaza iintetho zobuxoki ngokubhekiselele kwimimangaliso yamandla kaThixo. XauKristu wayevusela ebomini intwazana kaYayiro, wayethe, “Akafile umntwana, ulele.” Marko 5:39. Njengoko wayegule nje ixesha elifutshane, waza wavuswa kwakamsinyane emva kokuba efile, abaFarisi bathi umntwana wayengafanga; bathi uKristu ngokwaKhe watsho ukuthi ube elele kuphela. Bazama ukwenza kube ngathi uKristu akakwazi ukuphilisa isifo, nokuba kwakukho amaqhinga kwimimangaliso yaKhe. Kule yona imeko, akakho owayenako ukukhanyela ukuba uLazaro wayefile.ULw 534.3

Xa iNkosi iza kwenza umsebenzi, uSathana ungena emntwini othile ukuba ayichase. “Lisuseni ilitye,” watsho uKristu. Kangangoko ninako, wulungiseleni indlela umsebenzi wam. Noko kunjalo, imvelo kaMarta entle nenamabhongo yaziveza. Wayenganqweneli ukuba umzimba owonakeleyo uvezwe. Intliziyo yomntu ihamba kade ukuwaqonda amazwi kaKristu, ngenxa yoko ukholo lukaMarta lwalungayibambanga eyona ntsingiselo yesithembiso saKhe. ULw 535.1

UKristu wamngxolisa uMarta, kodwa amazwi aKhe ayethetha ngobubele obukhulu. “Anditshongo na kuwe ukuthi, Ukuba uthe wakholwa, wolubona uzuko lukaThixo?” Kutheni le nto unentandabuzo ngakumandla aM? Kutheni le nto uzama ukuphikisana nento endithi mayenziwe? Live ilizwi laM. Ukuba uyakholwa, uya kulubona uzuko lukaThixo. Izinto ezingenako ukwenzeka ngokwemvelo, azikwazi ukuwuthintela umsebenzi kaSomandla. Ukuthandabuza nokungakholwa asikuko ukuzithoba. Ukukholelwa ngokupheleleyo elizwini likaKristu kukuthobeka nokuzinikela kwenene. ULw 535.2

“Lisuseni ilitye.” UKristu wayenako ukuyalela ilitye ukuba lisuke, kwaye laliya kulithobela ilizwi laKhe. Wayenako nokuthuma iingelosi ezazikufuphi ecaleni kwaKhe ukuba zikwenze oku. Ngokuthunywa nguYe, izandla ezingabonwayo ngezalisusa ilitye. Kwakufuneka kodwa lisuswe ngezandla zomntu. Ngaloo ndlela, uKristu wayeza kubonisa ukuba uluntu lunako ukusebenzisana nobuThixo. Oko amandla omntu anako ukukwenza, amandla ezulu awayalelwa ukuba akwenze. UThixo akalususi uncedo lomntu. Uyamomeleza, asebenzisane naye ngexesha esebenzisa amandla nezakhono azinikiweyo. ULw 535.3

Umyalelo uthotyelwe. Ilitye liqengqiwe. Yonke into yenziwe ekuhleni nangabom. Bonke banikwe ithuba lokubona ukuba akukho nkohliso yenziweyo. Nanko ulele umzimba kaLazaro engcwabeni lelitye, ubanda uthe cwaka ekufeni. Izikhalo zabazili zithe cwaka. Limangalisiwe lijongile, iqela limi lijikeleze ingcwaba, lilindele ukubona okuza kulandela.ULw 535.4

Ezolile, uKristu umi phambi kwengcwaba. Kuthe zinzi undiliseko olungcwele kubo bonke abakhoyo. UKristu usondela kufuphi engcwabeni. Ewaphakamisele phezulu amehlo aKhe, uthi, “Bawo, ndiyabulela kuwe kuba undivile.” Kungekudala ngaphambi koku, iintshabazikaKristu zazimtyhole ngokunyelisa, zazazachola amatye ukuba zimxulube kuba esithi unguNyana kaThixo. Zazimtyhola ngokwenza imimangaliso ngamandla kaSathana. Ngoku apha uKristu uthi uThixo unguYise, aze athi, ngesibindi esipheleleyo, avakalise ukuba unguNyana kaThixo.ULw 535.5

Kuko konke awayekwenza, uKristu wayesebenzisana noYise. Wayehlala eqinisekisa ukuba icace into yokuba, konke akwenzayo wayengakwenzi eyedwa; imimangaliso yaKhe wayeyenza ngokholo nangomthandazo. UKristu wayenqwenela ukuba bonke balwazi ulwalamano phakathi kwaKhe noYise. “Bawo,” watsho, “ndiyabulela kuwe kuba undivile. Mna ke bendisazi ukuba uhleli undiva; ke nditsho ngenxa yesihlwele esixhonteleyo, ukuze bakholwe ukuba wena wandithuma.” Apha, abafundi kunye nabantu babeza kunikwa ubungqina obunamandla ngokubhekiselele kulwalamano phakathi kukaKristu noThixo. Babeza kuboniswa ukuba ibango likaKristu lalingeyiyo inkohliso. ULw 536.1

“Etshilo ke, wadanduluka ngezwi elikhulu, wathi, Lazaro, phuma.” Ilizwi laKhe, licacile lingena, lagqobhoza indlebe yofileyo. Wathi ngexesha ethetha, ubuThixo babengezela ebuntwini. ebusweni baKhe, obukhanyiswa bubuqaqawuli bukaThixo, abantu babona ingqiniseko yegunya laKhe. Onke amehlo amiliselwe ekungeneni kwengcwaba. Zonke iindlebe zilindele ukuva norhwatsharhwatsha omncinane. Ngomdla omkhulu, nokubanjwa kwemizimba okunexhala, bonke bakulindela ukuvavanywa kobuThixo bukaKristu, ubungqina obuza kuxhasa ibango laKhe lokuba nguNyana kaThixo, okanye bokucima ithemba ngonaphakade.ULw 536.2

Kukho intshukumo kwingcwaba elithuleyo, waza lowo ufileyo wema emnyangweni walo idlaka. Iintshukumo zakhe zaphazanyiswa zimpahla awayengcwatywe ngazo, waza uKristu wathi kubabukeli abakhwankqisiweyo, “Mkhululeni, nimyeke ahambe.” Kwakhona baboniswa ukuba umsebenzi ongumntu kufuneka abambisane noThixo. Uluntu kufuneka lusebenzele uluntu. ULazaro ukhululwe, umi phambi kweqela elingxangileyo, engenguye owayebhityiswe sisifo, namalungu—iingalo nemilenze—angcangcazelayo, kodwa njengomntu osebutsheni bobomi nasemandleni obudoda obuqinileyo. Amehlo akhe ekhanya kukuhlakanipha kwanothando ngakuMsindisi waKhe. Uziphosa ngothando ezinyaweni zikaYesu. ULw 536.3

Abo bakhangeleyo baqala ngokuphelelwa ngamazwi ngenxa yokukhwankqiswa. Kwabuya kwalandela umbono ongathethekiyo wovuyo nokubulela. Oodadewabo bamamkelela kubo umnakwabo ephilile, esisipho esivela kuThixo, bathi, besezinyembezini zovuyo, bavakalisa umbulelo kuMsindisi. Bathe ngeli xesha abazalwa kunye—oobhuti, noosisi, kunye nabanye abantu besavuyelana koku kuhlanganiswa, uYesu wazithi sululu wemka apho. Bathi bemkhangela uMniki-bomi, waye engasafumaneki ndawo. ULw 536.4